diff --git a/erpnext/selling/doctype/sales_order/test_sales_order.py b/erpnext/selling/doctype/sales_order/test_sales_order.py
index 6a8abea1543..d74f849facd 100644
--- a/erpnext/selling/doctype/sales_order/test_sales_order.py
+++ b/erpnext/selling/doctype/sales_order/test_sales_order.py
@@ -1619,7 +1619,7 @@ class TestSalesOrder(ERPNextTestSuite):
 		make_item(  # template item
 			"Test-WO-Tshirt",
 			{
-				"has_variant": 1,
+				"has_variants": 1,
 				"variant_based_on": "Item Attribute",
 				"attributes": [{"attribute": "Test Colour"}],
 			},
diff --git a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py
index 639d6a292ec..a2826be91f9 100644
--- a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py
+++ b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ class Item(Document):
 		self.validate_warehouse_for_reorder()
 		self.update_bom_item_desc()
 
+		self.validate_variant()
 		self.validate_has_variants()
 		self.validate_attributes_in_variants()
 		self.validate_stock_exists_for_template_item()
@@ -811,6 +812,43 @@ class Item(Document):
 						enqueue_after_commit=True,
 					)
 
+	def validate_variant(self):
+		if self.variant_of:
+			has_variants, based_on = frappe.get_value(
+				"Item", self.variant_of, ["has_variants", "variant_based_on"]
+			)
+			if not has_variants:
+				frappe.throw(_("Item {0} is not a template item.").format(frappe.bold(self.variant_of)))
+
+			if based_on == "Item Attribute":
+				for d in self.attributes:
+					if not frappe.db.exists(
+						"Item Variant Attribute", {"attribute": d.attribute, "parent": self.variant_of}
+					):
+						frappe.throw(
+							_("Attribute {0} is not valid for the selected template.").format(
+								frappe.bold(d.attribute)
+							)
+						)
+
+					numeric_values, disabled = frappe.get_value(
+						"Item Variant Attribute",
+						{"attribute": d.attribute, "parent": self.variant_of},
+						["numeric_values", "disabled"],
+					)
+
+					if disabled:
+						frappe.throw(_("Attribute {0} is disabled.").format(frappe.bold(d.attribute)))
+
+					if not numeric_values and not frappe.db.exists(
+						"Item Attribute Value", {"parent": d.attribute, "attribute_value": d.attribute_value}
+					):
+						frappe.throw(
+							_("Attribute Value {0} is not valid for the selected attribute {1}.").format(
+								frappe.bold(d.attribute_value), frappe.bold(d.attribute)
+							)
+						)
+
 	def validate_has_variants(self):
 		if self.is_new():
 			return